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DECEMBER 27, 2005 at 2:35 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HPANA
Editor's Note: This was a commentary (opinion piece) published in 2005. The official release date for book 7 has now been announced (and I was only two weeks off!). You can pre-order it now as well.
Harry Potter 7 will be released July 7, 2007.
At least, it should be. While this date has no doubt already crossed the minds of many fans, JK Rowling's recent revelation that "2006 will be the year" she writes the final book lends itself entirely to this theory.
That, and it is the biggest stroke of magical marketing luck so far this century. The book simply can't not be released on 07/07/07. It's too perfect.
It just so happens that July 7, 2007 is a Saturday. It just so happens that every Potter book since Goblet of Fire has been released on a Saturday (presumably to allow kids and their parents to attend those midnight release parties without undue hardship). It just so happens that July 7 falls right in the traditional June-July release window during which the other books were released. (Finally, while less relevant but still interesting, 12:00 a.m. on Saturday will be 7 p.m. Friday in the U.S., where the most Potter books have been sold to date. Fans on the east coast, already lined up to buy their copies, will see book 7 released across the pond at 7 p.m. local time - what a coincidence.)
Rowling has hinted at the significance of the number 7
, most recently in August when her official site's Wizard of the Month was an arithmancer who discovered the number's magical properties. In Half-Blood Prince, it was revealed that Lord Voldemort had made seven horcruxes (himself included). Quidditch teams have seven players each. Gryffindor Tower's entrance is on the seventh floor at Hogwarts. The list goes on and on.
I can see it now: the biggest marketing campaign in the history of publishing, with one very short, very simple, very effective message: Book 7. 07/07/07. Woe betide the marketing departments at Bloomsbury and Scholastic if they don't clinch what's obviously the most perfect storm of circumstance, desire, product and marketing the world may ever know.
Not that the book needs to be released on any specific date, though. As one of the planet's most successful authors, Rowling probably has the luxury of turning in a manuscript no sooner than when she sees fit. Fans will line up when told to. And it's up to her editors and publishers to polish, prepare and print it. One last consideration, from a business standpoint, is to ask if it makes sense to bump up against the next movie's release (and Order of the Phoenix will be in theatres July 13, 2007). Unfortunately, July 7 will also be the two-year anniversary of the London terrorist bombings (thanks to a reader for pointing that out).
No true fan would begrudge Jo for taking her time. But I must wonder if she also feels this coincidental "aligning of the fates" is something special, something magical, something to take advantage of. As a fan, I can only hope she does.
I also hope Jo doesn't find this speculation absurdly presumptuous. I hope she realizes it's our duty to poke and prod and ask and beg and whine and plead. How would that be any different from the last five years?
We certainly wouldn't want to disappoint her.
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Squib
Points: 169
Ginny Weasley 925 says:
Oh emm gee! That would be amazing if the book came out then
Soo long!
Achkblechbrrr!
I CAN'T WAIT!
~Phersh
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 3:52 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2559
TonksUSA says:
That is so perfect! I cant believe it. They already have the date set! so exciting and scary at the same time.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 3:53 PM EST
Emma's Soulmate
Points: 3393
I_Love_Emma_Watson says:
Cool release date.....i wonder how is called????
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 3:57 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 30
fawkes707 says:
Wow, what a great idea. So perfect. It will give us more time to come up with crazy theories too. I like. :)
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 3:59 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 371
Mamaille says:
That a good conicidenc. But lets not forget that it takes 7 years to finish Hogwarts. Maybe this was Jo's plan all along. Lest us hope she finish the book soon.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 3:59 PM EST
Hogwarts Valedictorian
Points: 2826
Lily*R/Hr says:
The 7th book released on the seventh day of the seventh month in '07 : ) Wow, leave it to J.K. Rowling to do that! I love it, though, my prediction was pretty darn close, and it's only six days after my sixteenth birthday!
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:04 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 450
natural-born-weasley says:
that would just be too perfect off course I'd much rather it come out in 2006.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:07 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 613
dietbrand says:
Good marketing date. I really hope it'll be that date. To keep up with tradition of releasing a Harry Potter book every 2 years since Prisoner of Azkaban.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:08 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 94
EmoHarryPotter says:
That is probably one of the best advertising ideas ever! And if they don't go for it then it will be most disappointing thing. I lvoe a good advertisement and I can already see it now... *smiles*
This had better happen... though I doubt it... Book seven could take a while...
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:08 PM EST
Points: 1797
howdoideletethis says:
That would be sooooo cool!! Not that I want to wait that long, but, having it on 7/7/07 at 7 PM (in some places) would be pretty awesome!!
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:08 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 315
Linnen Potter says:
That would be awesome...but does that lend her enough time to write it? I mean, that's pretty much only a year, possibly less.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:11 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 406
GinnyPotter6 says:
That woul be absolutely awesome!! That year is gonna be really great! I'll be out of school, I'll get into college and maybe, just maybe, I could live in England! =D!!! I could study there!
It's gonna be amazing! =D =D =D!
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:12 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 346
OlderHPfan says:
I was honestly thinking 7/31/?? myself. I would be cool to reease it on Harry's 17th birthday :)
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:13 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1078
bushbaby14 says:
Is this truth or are people just suspecting? it would be really cool. and gives us long enough to ponder and research and have the book title revealed to us and some chapter names and some book covers.
it just wouldn't be the same if they gave us book seven tomorrow.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:16 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1608
~Harry's true love~ says:
wow
that would be soo cool
I cant wait for the book to come out
I bet nobody can wait for it come out
and the movie is comming out too !
I cant wait for anything about Harry Potter to come out because it is the greatest thing in the worrld
I am going to be sad though because that means that their is not going to be any more books comming out of Harry Potter
I am probably going to cry because I am not going to be waiting for any more books *sigh*
but I will have the movies to wait for so that will be ok untill the movies are all out *sigh*
well I guess that their is still a long time for the movies to come out so I can still have Harry Potter for a long time!
-Lizzy
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:21 PM EST
Vader's Veela
Points: 3858
seekerfan says:
I think you're dead on Cheeser. That is a remarkable set of coincidences and would be a true marketing windfall. I really, really, really hope you're right.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:32 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1079
GluexXxEater says:
The date 7/7/07 seems too early, most of the other books took about 3 years.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:33 PM EST
Squib
Points: 182
hmbrpm1146 says:
What can be said...anytime, anywhere I'm sure all the fan will be there. I know I will.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:34 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 462
DJan says:
I can not wail any long .I want the next book soon. With alive Harry forever.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:39 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2469
Fat Lady Sings says:
My only reservation has to do with July 7 being the anniversary of the London bombings; otherwise, it would be a perfect release date. I agree wholeheartedly that JKR has the luxury of publishing whenever she darn well pleases.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:39 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 462
DJan says:
Oh is that in 2007 no way thats too long come on we need early.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:40 PM EST
Heir of Gryffindor
Points: 5731
Gryffindor Lord says:
Hmmmmmmmm...... Book 7 on 7/7/07 VERY interesting...
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:40 PM EST
Dan Radcliffe's Lovah
Points: 8781
JaDa Radcliffe says:
Hey! The whole article was really good! I mean, yeah, come to think of it.. Hmmmm.. Anyway, i can't wait for the last book to come out! But it's gonna be quite sad too.. *sniff*
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:41 PM EST
Student
Points: 274
x!xLizzix!x says:
Oooh that woudl be so cool. I can't wait for the next 3 hour long wait in a queue at midnight watching all the little kids that are dressed up try and skip me in the line and then growl at them so that they go back. heehee ;) I'm nto nasty-I just liek to get my book as fast as possible and then sit in the cafe of ottakers and at their specially released hedwig gingerbread cookies heehee. Wonder if they'll have abig 7 on them this time...seven seven seven. It always was my lucky number next to 5 and 2. Hee hee.
*Lizzi*
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:42 PM EST
Points: 7828
Rococoed says:
Cheeser, having read all the support you provided to defend your belief the book will come out in book stores on that date, I am forced to concede that it is likely to be published on that particular day. The evidence indicating support of this overwhelms any contradictory remarks. Due to the instant popularity of this theory it is inevitable that word will soon reach J.K. Rowling of it, and she will have no choice but to respond. It is therefore likely in my humble opinion that whether or not she was planning to release it then is irrelevant; as all the fans now are confident the book will reach their hands on that date, she will have no desire to not satisfy their dreams. And I doubt it could come out any earlier than that date either.
Only time will reveal.
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:43 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 337
Cindy Weasley says:
WOW!!! I was going crazy with wanting to know the release date. Now that I do I can atleast start preparing for the end. I will b 20!! It´s crazy so old and loving Harry Potter. I think that I´m gonna grow old loving this series. It´s truly amazing!!!
When I read the books I forget all my problems. For me it´s a type of escape.
Thank you JK for providing the escape I need!!!
-Ron´s Wife
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 4:43 PM EST
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